Joe Biden
(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)

By Larry Keane

Those tuning in to watch President Biden’s State of the Union address saw and heard a few things when he entered the U.S. House of Representatives to address Congress and the nation. There is a new Speaker of the House – Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). He was seated next to Vice President Kamala Harris, a visual reminder of our divided government. Military generals and Supreme Court Justices were in attendance, along with Members of Congress and Senators.

President Biden once again banged his usual drum demanding to renew the assault weapons ban. That’s the law hat he, along with U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, ushered in in 1994 and President Bill Clinton signed into law that banned the sale of modern sporting rifles (MSRs). That ban expired in 2004 and the semiautomatic rifle has since become the most-popular selling centerfire rifle in America – with over 24.4 million in circulation today.

Clinton assault weapons ban anniversiary
President Bill Clinton signs the 1994 “assault weapons” ban into law. (Dennis Cook/AP)

President Biden scolded Congress for not sending him legislation to renew the unconstitutional ban on these commonly-owned commonly-used rifles. Never mind that the Supreme Court made clear in the Heller, McDonald and Bruen decisions that any such ban is unconstitutional.

What President Biden didn’t tell the American public – and won’t – is what the rest of America is saying about any proposed ban. Over half the country doesn’t want it, according to a recent poll by ABC News/Washington Post.

Cratering Support

Respondents to the poll released just days before the State of the Union speech showed that 51 percent surveyed oppose any such ban. That’s a 10-point increase from 2019 when the same question was asked. Just 47 percent of those responding – a nine point drop – voiced support for banning MSRs, the second lowest percentage reported since the question was put forth in the polls starting in 1995.

That’s not something President Biden will admit to the American public. Instead, he stuck to his worn-out tropes to demonize the rifle as he’s repeatedly done in the past. He called it an “assault weapon.” It’s not. The MSR is a semiautomatic rifle that operates the same way as popular duck hunting shotguns and semiautomatic handguns used every day for personal protection. One cartridge is expended each time the trigger is pressed.

That’s just one of President Biden’s favorite falsehoods about firearms, which have been fact-checked time an again.

“Do you realize the bullet out of an AR-15 travels five times as rapidly as a bullet shot out of any other gun?” President Biden said in Pennsylvania last summer. Not true. Fox News referenced a Field & Stream study of cartridge speeds that shot that one down.

Joe Biden
(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

President Biden, in that same Pennsylvania speech, questioned the rationale of why anyone would use MSRs outside of combat. Again, the president is conflating the military’s automatic M-16 and M-4 with MSRs, but he clearly ignores that these rifles are used for lawful purposes every day, including hunting, recreational target shooting and self-defense.

He wasn’t done. He also claimed that federally-licensed firearm retailers are “providing the weapons to anybody who has the money.” Again, not true. Firearms are sold only to those who are over the age of 18 and clear the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS).

Presidential Patterns

This wasn’t the first time President Biden used the State of the Union to spread half-truths. Last year, he scolded Congress to give him one of his gun control wish-list items repealing the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA).

“Repeal the liability shield that makes gun manufacturers the only industry in America that can’t be sued, the only one,” he said.

Even the Associated Press called him out on that lie.

AP reported “THE FACTS: That’s false. While gun manufacturers do have legal protections from being held liable for injuries caused by criminal misuse of their weapons thanks to the 2005 Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act, they are not exempt or immune from being sued.”

PLCAA protections aren’t dissimilar to other industries, including pharmaceuticals and medical device manufacturers.

President Biden demanded unconstitutional gun bans to score a few cheap political points with radical special-interest gun control groups. The problem for Americans is he does it while ignoring the Constitution, U.S. Supreme Court decisions to uphold the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens and now ignores the citizens themselves.

 

Larry Keane is SVP for Government and Public Affairs, Assistant Secretary and General Counsel of the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

50 COMMENTS

    • Make no mistake about it…democRat candidate newsob is a younger version of Jim Crow Gun Control democRat joe. And assuming newsob does not have a chance is like assuming joe didn’t have a chance.
      That said…I suggest tit for tat courtroom drama queens who complained the loudest about bump stocks and braces consider opening their pieholes and define Gun Control according to its history confirmed roots in racism and genocide. Otherwise America’s duped knee jerk history illiterates will continue falling for Gun Control To The Rescue just like they so often have…No court can or will fix that.

    • They don’t have the numbers, balls, or laws to take them so we are stuck with mountains of bullshit to clean up in the courts before they try to shovel more at us (court packing).

  1. He should appeal to the tree huggers, point out ALL the carbon emissions from .223/5.56 and 7.62×39 rifle cartridges x the thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of rounds fired daily around the world… Get guns and cure global warming at the same time, he’d be elected king by the Progressive Left…

  2. He gave a broken replay of one of Reagans SOTU’s.
    Complete with “stay the course” and “weapons of war don’t belong on our streets.”

    The guys like an amalgamation of all the worst bits from every president since Kennedy sprinkled with a healthy dose of Robert Byrd racism.

  3. Joe the senile robot…. if the teleprompter would have instructed him to stand on one foot and twirl three times with a finger in his left ear, he’d have done that on national TV also.

    • Remember what Elon Musk said: “The Real President is whoever controls the teleprompter.” Biden is nothing more than a Manchurian candidate in an empty suit. He is the tradeoff made by the Liberal Progressive Democrat leadership. For allowing an old man with dementia to live out his dream of being President,

      • He is the tradeoff made by the Liberal Progressive Democrat leadership.

        Actually he’s there because that is who the true “powers that be” wanted there, they knew they could control him and if he got out of hand, he would be easy to eliminate but his handler “Dr” Jill has done a pretty good job of keeping him in line… Braindead just wanted the title, he doesn’t give a good fuk about what happens to the country as long as he’s POTUS and he gets paid…

  4. He also stated he would veto any attempt to raise the price of rath#lbg!raise!

    Biden is living proof that even a person of subnormal intelligence can succeed in government. God help us!

    • While my current working group is mostly great I have had a few previous positions where that statement is very much in play. Political appointments are potentially worse as they don’t even need to take let alone pass civil service exams.

  5. I was happy I had a loaded MSR during the blm “mostly peaceful protests” in 2020. My elderly best friend bought one which shocked me as he thought they were ” illegal”. I taught him to shoot. He & his wife gunned up & moved to Indiana shortly thereafter. And volunteered to store my offending rifle and naughty magazines if it comes to that. EFF U Slow Joe and Dimscum©(& RINOS).

    • Had a few friends that still thought guns of any sort were/should be illegal outside of crazy levels of permits. Had a handful of others that went hard in the other direction and help me look for primers

  6. “Repeal the liability shield that makes gun manufacturers the only industry in America that can’t be sued, the only one,” he said

    There are several lawsuits against gun manufacturers currently in progress and the Sandy Hook families settled for 73 million last year… Don’t need to be a computer genius to find any of that stuff, even Hunter could do it if his hard drive wasn’t already full of porn…

  7. “radical special-interest gun control groups”

    Correction…

    Far-Left radical special-interest gun control groups.

    • While synonymous it is good to have more complete descriptions for new or potential gun owners.

      • “While synonymous it is good to have more complete descriptions for new or potential gun owners.”

        Hmmmm … more complete descriptions for new or potential gun owners…..

        Ok…

        Far-Left radical special-interest gun control groups who seek to install a tyranny and remove rights of law abiding citizens while encouraging lawlessness and disarming you leaving you defenseless while their leaders are mostly affluent white people who want to make sure especially law abiding black people are disarmed while those affluent leaders stay safe with their armed protection details and build hide-away bunkers and fill them with guns and ammo in preparation for the coming race war they hope to encourage.

        • Lol I think you had it just right the first time but that is a wonderful expanded description (do you want to know more link maybe)

  8. It’s so hard to watch this bag of bones try to fake being “in touch”. Same goes for any president. None of them represent “the people”. Rich assholes only in positions of power to benefit themselves.

    • When was the last time, legitimately, that he went to a grocery store or filled up his own vehicle? Sure–he’ll go to an ice cream shop and pay cash for that…all while the cameras are clicking and video rolling, but let’s just think about that for a second or two. He’s been in Congress since 1972. I would venture to guess that it was sometime in 2000 (estimating here and being generous since he had brain surgery in 1988 to correct an aneurism) or maybe a little later after becoming his 2007 campaign and later being VPOTUS in the Obama Administration (with Secret Service protections/restrictions, etc.). At least 16 years if not more? I mean, how disconnected can you possibly get?

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Biden

  9. According to CNN. Biden’s SOTU speech had the lowest approval ratings in 40+ years and the 2nd smallest audience since viewership numbers have been tabulated.

  10. I didn’t watch it because I knew he was going spew nonsense.
    According to the snippets I have seen, it was just that, nonsense.
    Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s rebuttal was pretty good.
    She shot down a lot of his nonsense and did it in a dignified way.
    Whether you love or hate Trump what Pelosi did
    by ripping up his speech was a stain on our nation.
    Marjorie Taylor Greenes white balloon stunt was pretty funny.
    I give the senile POTUS a F as to our SOTU.
    John Fetterman or Joe Biden, who kicks it first?

  11. SOTU…its suppose to stand for State Of The Union, but given the crime problem it should stand for State Of The Underworld.

  12. The fact that the SEMI-AUTOMATIC rifle is the most popular rifle in the USA and that there are now nearly 25 million of them in circulation does NOT mean it is right or proper or even nessessary. I still do not get the nessessity for them except as instruments for childish Dick-Swinging by immature wannabe Rambos.

    I’d be appreciative if SOMEBODY, ANYBODY could give me a single logical reason for owning a Semi-Automatic Rifle other than to shoot people with other than just wanting one!! What you gonna do save the elfin world.

    The only place for semi-automatics is in the Military and Security ServicesIF you really must have one JOIN the bloody Army. But I doubt you could handle the discipline or you already would have.

    • “I’d be appreciative if SOMEBODY, ANYBODY could give me a single logical reason for owning a Semi-Automatic Rifle …”

      Because we can. F*** off, Al.

    • Rambo had a knife and a M60 General-Purpose MACHINE GUN.
      Every kitchen has a knife but not many people have M60s.
      As for semi autos rifles they go back to 1885.
      By the early 20th century,
      many manufacturers had introduced semi-automatic shotguns, rifles and pistols.
      They are pretty common being that have been around for 140 years.
      Between all of the semi auto rifles in the US,
      I would say you are off by probably 50 million.
      ARs, AKs, assorted hunting rifles and .22s like the Ruger 10/22.
      My guess is 75 million semi auto rifles in the US of all sorts.
      Now think about all the semi auto pistols, that’s what does the most killing by far.
      The Army uses M4s and other cool automatic rifles but not many semi autos.
      No military would just use semi autos, that’s just dumb.

    • Albert L J Hall. You’re an idiot. If you don’t like guns, you can be the drummer. Because Slow Joe doesn’t like guns, he feels no one should have them. Well, how about this, I don’t like broccoli, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, and cauliflower so let’s make that illegal, too. Sales of guns and people supporting gun ownership has proved what this a$$hat of a so-called President fails to see. The people have spoken.

      • Broccoli, asparagus, and cauliflower I eat.
        Brussels sprouts, NEVER but I like cabbage.
        I bought a pound of asparagus this morning,
        it’s my vegetable for a T-bone and baked potato on Saturday.

    • Hey a**hole, it’s because I want one. That’s all you need to know.

      By the way, I see no logical reason for you to own an automobile. They kill tens of thousands of people every year. You can easily walk wherever you need to go. Why do you need anything more?
      Can you give me a SINGLE, LOGICAL reason for owning one?

    • Albert,

      You point out how many of these firearms we own. How many crimes are committed with them? How about other types of firearms, like the ones you approve of? Give us the statistical break down of how many are owned and how many are used in crime.

      You won’t, you’ll just continue to abuse your yīnjīng and never return to back up your assertions.

    • @Albert L J Hall

      “The fact that the SEMI-AUTOMATIC rifle is the most popular rifle in the USA and that there are now nearly 25 million of them in circulation does NOT mean it is right or proper or even nessessary. I still do not get the nessessity for them except as instruments for childish Dick-Swinging by immature wannabe Rambos.”

      The fact that you exist does NOT mean it is right or proper or even “nessessary”. I still do not get the “nessessity” of why you are even alive.

      “nessessary”… “nessessity” ? Seriously? You can’t correctly spell simple common words?

      Its none of your business why people own what they do.

      Why don’t you go join a class on English and learn the language you moron. Your whole post … ‘gibberish nonsense’ is not a language so stop trying to pretend it is.

      • @Albert L J Hall

        and also… “nessessary”… “nessessity”, you even spell like a drugged out moron with ‘slurring’ words in spelling.

    • You have a point, we really should have unfettered access to M60 and similar to even begin to be Rambo. So guess we need to work on getting that NFA overturned.

    • Because would be tyrants always want to attack the Bible and personal ownership of firearms. It is so consistent as to be an axiom.

      The demographic most heavily invested in buying self protection firearms right now are black women in the inner city.

      If politicians and the police controlled the violence there would not be such a massive desire for the means of self protection. It appears that politicians do not want the police to control violence in the inner city. Democratic politicians sure seem to desire and support violence. As long as they do so the desire for a way to defend ourselves will continue to grow. When violent criminals are released so fast and easily it sure looks like they want more of the same violence.

      When politicians desire to take guns away from violent criminals and leave the violent ones in jail I might look at it differently. Instead all of the gun proposals want to remove firearms from the innocent. Guns in the hands of the violent do not get prosecuted for some reason.

      Violence in the inner city is what the leadership of your political party wants.

  13. This is a completely cucked line of arguing. Americans have a right to own fully automatic weapons. He can conflate away, I don’t care. The nfa is unconstitutional. Only a goddamn child would want the government to be their surrogate parent.

  14. While the poll is good news, the true response should be who cares?
    Do they take polls about whether women should be allowed to vote? Blacks? Asians?
    Do they take polls about whether MSM should be allowed to exist?
    Why not? Because those things are in the Constitution, as is the 2nd Amendment.
    Maybe the question should be “should politicians who attempt to take away our constitutional rights be put in prison for doing such?”

  15. doesn’t matter. they’re don’t push gun control for support… they get support (on other stuff) so they can push gun control

  16. Sure, I could use a bolt or lever gun instead of 1 of my AR type rifles. Heck, I know people who hunt feral hogs with dogs and knives.
    I use an AR-15 as a varmint gun. Works great on critters like coyotes, woodchucks, racoons, and with apologies to 1 of the regulars here, possums.
    My AR-10 works great for feral hogs, deer or other medium sized game or problem critters.
    Guess Bertie has not been treed by a sounder of angry feral hogs, or had to deal with fast moving wild canines.
    Those pushing the militia part of the second forget the militia is pretty much anyone not otherwise prohibited from owning firearms and not currently in prison or in the military.
    Would it not make sense to have potential militia members familiar with weapons that can use magazines and ammunition from government supplies?

  17. A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

    In legal terms, look where the commas are.
    The lefts Militia BS doesn’t hold water.
    The right of the people to keep and bear Arms and shall not be infringed cannot be argued,
    so they go after the well regulated Militia part.

    • And as we know, “well regulated” in the late 1700s meant “in good working order,” not “controlled by government.”

      And the “militia” are the people.

      “The people, skilled with arms of contemporary military utility and relevant military tactics, so that they can serve in the defense of Republic against both foreign invaders and the threat of domestic tyrants commanding a national army against the liberty of the citizenry, shall not have their individual right to bear arms infringed by the government.”

      • I read the whole thing in context like that but the left goes after “A well regulated Militia”. That’s the argument on their cheat sheet.

        While that’s BS if you are schooled in legal speak, a comma and the words and, or plus a comma can make a legal document or law either 100% binding or void.

        “The well regulated militia is the National Guard” says Ken and Karen but we know differently. It’s We The People and in the second amendment it guarantees us inalienable rights. When some idiot starts babbling about the well regulated militia part I respond with look where the comments are.
        It baffles them and shuts them up.

        We are on the exact same page but that phrase “look where the commas are” usually shuts Ken and Karen up, it’s not on their cheat sheet. Then I’ll ask if they have any more questions and the stupid ones will start babbling scary rifles and other assorted crap. To which I reply “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed which means every American has a Right to keep and bear Arms and that Right shall not be infringed.

        Then I’ll follow it up with: If you can get 75% of the USA to vote to change that then that’s your right so work on it. 😁

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